Newsletter - Autumn 2007

Christmas Fayre - School Early Closure Friday 30th November:

To allow time for the PTFA to set up this festive event we will be following our usual practise of closing the school at 1.30pm. We recognise that some parents may find this difficult and therefore we will make arrangements to look after children till 3.15pm. Please inform the school office, in advance, if care is required.

PTFA Dress Differently Bring a Bottle Day Friday 2nd November
Dress is casual, fancy dress optional (but no football shirts or trainers with heels please) Dress down and bring us a bottle for the Christmas Fayre bottle stall (or pay £1) - all donations gratefully received, from shampoo to champagne!

Dress down and enjoy a day without uniform!
Thank you!

PTFA Film & Chips Night for years 1 & 2:  Friday 2nd November ‘The Wild’. Letters have already been sent out.

On Tuesday 18th December we will be taking pupils from Years 2,3,4,5 and 6 to see Cinderella at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield. Our annual pantomime visits have become a highlight of the school year.  We will leave school as soon after morning registration as possible and will return in time for a late lunch – so all pupils who are going to the pantomime will need a packed lunch that day, they should also wear school uniform as there will be a lot of children at the performance. The PTFA have kindly donated £1 per pupil and therefore the cost will be £10.00 which includes transport on yellow school coaches, pantomime ticket and mid morning snack. Please send the money and permission slip by 16th November, as we have to pay for the tickets well in advance.

Dogs!  It does not matter how small, how young or how cute your dog is, it should not be brought onto any part of the school grounds (even if it is being carried). Although the caretaker checks the playground each morning, we have had a problem on several occasions recently with dog mess on the playground, which then goes onto children’s shoes, up the corridors and into carpeted classrooms, or at the end of the day into parent’s cars. This is very unpleasant and a potential health risk to the children.

Christmas Performances:  (more information nearer the time)

Costumes:  If anyone has any costumes or outgrown dressing up clothes that may be suitable  for our plays we would be very grateful for donations. We are trying to build up a ‘bank’ of costumes so that the school Christmas play letter isn’t such a nightmare for busy parents.

On Friday 16th November we will be supporting Children in Need with a Dress Differently Day. Children can dress as unusually as they like (as long as what they wear is safe bearing in mind normal school activities) in return for a donation to Children in Need. There are lots of fun and games and super fundraising ideas on their website.

Yu Gi Oh Swaps Day:  Before half term, when children were asked not to bring Yu Gi Oh cards into school, they were promised that if they respected this request we would have a ‘Swaps day’ when they could bring the cards into school to swap with friends at lunchtime and playtime. This day is now planned for Children in Need day – 16th November. Parents need to be aware that the cards remain the responsibility of the pupils, and staff are not responsible for any ‘swaps’ made – however ill-advised!

Year 5 Safer Routes To School:  In order to make travelling to & from school safer and healthier, and to obtain a substantial grant from the local authority to enable this to happen, the school needs a School Travel Plan. Year 5 have volunteered to undertake the work as part of their ICT/Geography/ maths. In due course parents & pupils will be receiving questionnaires about travelling to school. Please return them promptly so that all the information can be analysed as soon as possible and our travel plan submitted to the local authority. The travel plan will also become part of our Healthy Schools bid.

Cleanest School!  Mrs Bowen, our school caretaker, and her team, are to be congratulated on the commendation they recently received, following an inspection of their work, on the thoroughness and high quality of cleaning in our school. Thank you - your hard work makes a huge difference to our learning environment.

‘Back to Basics’ evening at 7.00pm on November 7th:  All parents are invited to the evening when we will give a brief introduction to some of the methods used in school for teaching reading, writing and maths along with suggestions for parents to help their children at home. Mrs Fowlie, a teacher from the Special Needs Support Service, will also give a presentation which will give an introduction as to how children with specific learning difficulties can be helped. We will also welcome suggestions for future evenings where, perhaps, we can focus on specific curriculum areas. If you are interested in attending please return the attached slip as soon as possible so that we can ensure the evening is useful to all who attend.

‘Back to Basics’ evening at 7.00pm on November 7th

I am / we are hoping to attend the Back to Basics Evening.

I am particularly interested in

I have a child/ children in class(es)

Signed: 

Christmas Fayre - School Early Closure Friday 30th November

I will not be able to make arrangements to collect my child

(child’s name) class: from school at 1.30pm. Please make arrangements to look after them until 3.15pm. Children will leave school from the front door, by the school office, on that day.

Signed(parent/carer):

Tuesday 18th December:  Cinderella at the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield.

I give permission for my child (child’s name) in class
to visit the Garrick Theatre, Lichfield to see the pantomime Cinderella with Cheslyn Hay Primary school.

I enclose payment of £10.00, which includes transport on yellow school coaches, pantomime ticket, insurance and mid morning snack. I understand that in the event of my child being unable to go on the day a full refund may not be available.

Signed (parent / carer)